Report: Tokyo court grants Carlos Ghosn bail set at $8.9-M

Former Nissan Motor chairman Carlos Ghosn may have his freedom—at least for now.

According to a report by NHK World-Japan, the embattled Ghosn—accused of “improperly receiving” about ¥1 billion worth of funds from a Nissan-Mitsubishi deal in 2018—has been granted bail by the Tokyo District Court.

How much is his bail set at? About $8.9 million (over P460 million). That’s a jaw-dropping sum, even for an individual who was formerly one of the automotive industry’s top executives.

According to the report, this is Ghosn’s third bail attempt already. It was filed by the 64-year-old Ghosn’s new legal team last week, and was granted because the court saw no possibility of destruction of evidence.

No further details were provided, though NHK sources say the decision includes safeguards to prevent attempts to flee and tamper with evidence. The report also says Junichiro Hironaka, a lawyer with a reputation for winning numerous high-profile cases, is now on Ghosn’s legal team.

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Prosecutors are expected to appeal the court’s decision. Do you think this case will pan out in favor of the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance’s former CEO?